Paris Independent School District

Paris High School is proud to celebrate the achievements of its students who earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Program. 

The program, available on BigFuture®, helps students stand out on college and scholarship applications. Every year, talented students claim an award based on their achievement on College Board assessments, including the PSAT/NMSQT®, PSAT™ 10, and AP® Exams.
 
In 2025, the program offered three awards to students of all backgrounds and across schools nationwide: First­Generation Recognition Award, Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award, and for the first time, the School Recognition Award, to honor top-performing students in every high school, including lesser-known schools. 

This year, five students at Paris High School received the academic honor. Recipients include Vincent Aragon, awarded the First-Generation Recognition Award; Clary Biard, honored with both the School Recognition Award and the Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award; Nolan Hamer, recipient of the School Recognition Award; Ian Johnson, recognized with the First-Generation Recognition Award, School Recognition Award, and Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award; and Zahra Tapia, awarded the Rural and Small-Town Recognition Award and the School Recognition Award.

"We take immense pride in our students and are thrilled to see their hard work and excellence acknowledged," expressed Principal Chris Vaughn. "This accolade not only highlights their outstanding accomplishments during high school but also paves the way for their promising futures."

Students verify their eligibility during their sophomore or junior year by meeting the following criteria:
•    Take the PSAT/NMSQT (10th, 11th), PSAT 10 (10th), and/or AP Exams (by the end of 10th).
•    Earn a cumulative GPA of B+ or higher (at least 3.3 or 87%-89%) by the time of submission.
•    Be one of the top 10% of test takers in their high school, among first-generation college students in their state, and/or among rural and small-town students in their state, OR earn a 3+ on 2 or more distinct AP Exams in the 8th, 9th, and/or 10th grade.

The recognition serves as a signal for colleges eager to recruit awardees and as an opportunity for communities to celebrate students as they start a new school year. Thousands of nonprofit colleges and scholarship organizations using the College Board Student Search Service™ can connect with awardees during the recruitment process to share more about their postsecondary programs. 

"We are deeply committed to clearing a path for each and every student to take ownership of their future. We are excited that this program recognizes achievements of students across the country," said Amy Reitz, senior vice president of BigFuture at College Board. "With the highest participation in the program's history this year, we are proud to support these students on their future paths."